24/03/02: Projects are now posted under 'Projects' in the frame above. Have a good Easter break!
Added 13/03/02: Coursework 3 now available.
Added 04/03/02: Worked solutions to the coursework problems are now available.
Click here to download the
Lagrange interpolation algorithm from CW1.
An example program that
uses
2nd order
Runge-Kutta methods to solve the motion of a simple pendulum may be
downloaded here .
A list of common student errors related to the coursework problems is here
What topics does the Computing II module cover?
Welcome to the Computing II homepage. Computing is an integral part of modern physics. Both
experimental and theoretical physicists rely heavily on computers for tasks ranging from the collection and
analysis of large volumes of data to the simulation of complex physical systems. The Computing II module builds on the
fundamental C programming skills taught in the Computing I module (F31AC1) to cover the use of computer-based
numerical methods in the solution of physics problems.
(What does the image to the left show?)
Computer graphics and Java applets
A particular theme running throughout the module is the use of computer graphics to visualise the solutions of various physics problems. Therefore, a feature of the Computing II site will be the inclusion of Java applets (and links to applets) that illustrate key physics and numerical methods concepts (an applet is a small program embedded in and controlled by a larger application such as a world wide web browser). Java is a particularly exciting and relatively recent development of the Internet which enables the production of dynamic, interactive web sites.An example of a Java applet is shown to the right. In addition to solving the equation of motion for the ball, the applet is also interactive - try dragging the ball to a new position using the mouse! While this is admittedly a rather simple example, there are a large number of systems whose dynamic behaviour is very difficult or impossible to solve analytically and we must use computer-based numerical methods. An example of a simple system that exhibits complex behaviour is the damped, driven pendulum - we cover that system in some detail in Lecture 6: Chaos . (This link features a Java simulation of the pendulum).
Course details
- Module Aims & Objectives
- Lectures & lecture notes
- Computing lab. sessions
- Assessment
- Textbooks
- Feedback
- Timetable
- Contact details
Aims and Objectives
A range of numerical techniques and their application to various areas of physics will be presented in a series of weekly 1 hour lectures. Running in parallel with the lectures will be a weekly 1 hr. computing lab. session (in room B11) that will give "hands-on" experience in writing computer algorithms and programs based on the techniques discussed in the lectures. There are two primary aims of the Computing II module:- to develop your ability to solve physics problems and model physical systems using computer algorithms and numerical methods;
- to extend your knowledge of the C programming language via the development of structured programs.
Lectures & Lecture notes
The Computing II lecture notes are handed out in booklet form during the
first lecture (see the lecture timetable ). I
have
not reproduced those notes on this web site, preferring to include
additional material and information that supports the lectures and lab.
sessions.For a sample Computing II lecture web page, click on the "Lectures" button above.
Lab sessions
The class has been divided into three groups for the computing lab. sessions. (See lab. groups to find the group you have been assigned to). All computing lab. sessions will be held in room B11. The lab. session times are as follows:
- Group A: Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00
- Group B: Tuesday 14:00 - 15:00
- Group C: Tuesday 15:00 - 16:00
Assessment
Coursework
This year the coursework assessment element of the module consists of
3 exercises
allocated on Weeks 2, 4 and 7 of the course and due in at the start of the
lab. session the following week.
The rules and regulations regarding coursework that were described in the
course details for the Computing I module also apply for the Computing II
module. In particular, (i) a plagiarism statement
must be handed in with the coursework exercise, and (ii) the
coursework must be printed out before, and not during, the lab. session in which it should be handed in. The coursework exercise contributes 20% of your final mark for this module.
Class test
On the sixth week of the course, there will be a 1 hour class test. The
class test contributes 30% of the final
module mark. Click on the "Tests" button above for examples of previous
tests. You will be able to
refer to your lecture handouts and notes, lab session notes, previous coursework and text books throughout the test.
Project
The final three weeks (9-11) of the course are devoted to a project which
you will be assigned at the start of week 9
of the course. The project will involve writing a C program that uses the techniques covered in the course to solve a physics problem or model a simple physical system. The project contributes 50% of the final mark. There are no lectures and no lab. sessions for the final three weeks of the course - these weeks are set aside for you to work on your project.
The completed project (consisting of ~ 1000 words describing how you
approached the problem and wrote the C code, a printput of your program
and your program on a 3.5" floppy disk) must be handed in to me on a floppy disk by Friday 10th May. . Projects handed in after
this date will not contribute to your final mark. Further details on the structure of the project report will be available closer to the start of the projects.
Textbooks and recommended reading
There is currently no text book available that covers both programming in C and numerical techniques/computational physics at a first year level. For C programming I recommend the following books:
- "Teach yourself C programming in 21 days", Peter Aitken and Bradley Jones, SAMS Publishing (1995) £26-95 (in the George Green library)
This book was also recommended by Dr. Dunn for the Computing I module. It provides a solid grounding in all the aspects of C that will be covered in this course. - "C for Dummies, Vols I and II", Dan Gookin, IDG Books Worldwide (George Green library)
The " …for dummies" books provide both an entertaining and enlightening introduction to the C language. While a lot of the material, particularly in Vol. I, has been covered in the Computing I module, these books adopt a tutorial approach to learning C that includes an extensive use of "icons" to highlight important concepts.
- "Computational Physics", Nicholas J. Giordano, Prentice-Hall (£24-95) (& in the George Green library).
This is an excellent book and is the only text currently available that provides a good introduction to computational physics at a first year level. (Note that the latter chapters deal with a number of subjects that are beyond first year undergraduate physics courses). Although the computer programs are not in C, the book is written so that the algorithms used to tackle various problems in physics may be easily understood and converted to the C language. (The author's web site is here . - "Numerical methods for engineers", Chapra and Canale (in the George Green library)
The title belies the fact that this book provides a comprehensive general introduction to numerical methods for not only engineers but also physicists and other scientists. There are numerous useful worked examples and pseudocode listings throughout the text.
Feedback
A module questionnaire will be handed out on week 6 of the course, your responses collated and this information, along with my comments (in the form of a Module Report Form), posted on the website. Click on "Feedback" above for questionnaire-related data from previous years. In addition, each coursework exercise and your class test should be returned with sufficient feedback for you to understand where you lost marks and how you might improve your programming. If at any time you have queries regarding the course or your coursework/test marks please contact me either during a lab. session, by e-mail or at my office (see details below).
Contact Details
Philip Moriarty
School of Physics & Astronomy, Office: B125, Tel. (internal): 15156
E-mail: Philip.Moriarty@nottingham.ac.uk
Return to the School of Physics & Astronomy web page
Last Updated: 28 January 2001
Philip Moriarty, School of Physics & Astronomy,
University of Nottingham